‘We can only just pray’, says mother-in-law of sailor on missing Indonesian submarine
24 April, 2021
Recent days have already been trying times for Mdm Yayak Dwi Ernawati, 46.
Her son-in-law, Mr Pandu Yudha Kusuma, 23 is among those serving up to speed the missing KRI Nanggala 402 submarine.
Within an interview with CNA on Friday (Apr 23), Mdm Ernawati said: “We are able to only pray. We leave it to the officers to find it (the submarine). We hope he comes home home safely.”
“I feel that he is still safe, hopefully. Because they're all trained personnel … Bottom line, we still expect the best.”
She described her son-in-law as a sort and responsible man. He married her daughter, Mega Dian Pratiwi, 23 only on Feb 24 this season.
Mr Kusuma, who joined the navy five years back, is situated in the naval base in Surabaya. His wife lives in Banyuwangi, East Java province where she works as a midwife.
Mdm Ernawati last spoke to her son-in-law on Monday morning. The latter said that he'd be sailing to the waters off the Bali Strait.
“He asked for my blessing because he would be sailing … I said: ‘Be careful. You will be the family’s backbone’,” she said, adding that Mr Kusuma includes a younger sibling and a younger brother-in-law.
She said that her son-in-law has long wished to serve in the navy as he originates from a family group with military background. Mr Kusuma’s father has been the army.
The submarine went missing on Wednesday with 53 people on board when getting involved in a torpedo drill in north Bali waters. Connection with the vessel was lost at 4.30am local time, after it asked for permission to dive at 3am.
Indonesian submarine KRI Nanggala 402. (Photo: Facebook/Pusat Penerangan TNI)
A total of 49 crew members, one ship commander and three weapons experts were up to speed the submarine, the defence ministry had said.
The military assumed that the submarine was currently experiencing a power outage. For the reason that condition, the submarine could run out of oxygen by 3am on Saturday.
At least 25 Indonesian ships have joined the search. More ships from other countries are on their way to the scene.
Mdm Ernawati said she first heard about the missing vessel on Wednesday night via social media. Later that night, the wife of a commander notified them with a chat group.
“Initially, I didn’t believe it … We were all shocked,” she recounted. The state word from the navy confirming that the submarine has truly gone missing only arrived on Friday morning.
Mdm Ernawati said that her daughter continues to be in shock. The latter has largely kept to herself in the room.
“We, the family, are giving her strength to still believe that her husband will certainly return,” she said.
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